COTE: Horikita Is My Childhood Sweetheart

Chapter 10: I…I'm Sakura…Sakura Airi!

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Rin Matsuoka glanced at the name tag of the girl with long, bright red hair. The words written on it were: *Sakura Airi.*

Sakura Airi had a well-behaved personality but was extremely shy. Because of this, she was often quiet, dared not communicate with others, was afraid of being watched, and avoided crowded places.

However, despite her shy and introverted nature, Sakura Airi was very active online. In fact, she was an online idol and print model, going by the stage name "Shizuku."

Shizuku had a significant following online, but her fans would never imagine that the energetic and lively girl they admired was actually a quiet, shy girl from the countryside in real life!

The contrast was too extreme.

Sakura Airi was feeling incredibly nervous, her head lowered, her body unconsciously tensing up as she peeked through her bright red bangs. She had noticed that the handsome boy sitting in front of her was looking in her direction.

"Oh no, please don't look at me, I'm so nervous…" Sakura Airi silently screamed inside her heart, yet there was a small part of her that felt a little happy.

A small joy from being noticed by a handsome boy.

No matter how shy and well-behaved she was, Sakura Airi was still a teenage girl. She had the same superficial desires as other girls—she liked handsome boys and enjoyed being admired by one.

Rin Matsuoka studied the girl sitting behind him, who exuded a timid aura, as if saying, *I'm scared, please don't bully me.* To him, it seemed like this girl was probably quite beautiful.

Although most of her face was hidden by her glasses and her drooping, bright red bangs, Rin could still catch glimpses of her crystal-clear lips and slightly pointed chin.

Additionally, her skin appeared exceptionally fair, delicate, and flawless. With just a little care and effort, she could easily transform into an astonishing beauty.

But that wasn't what caught Rin's attention the most. What really stood out to him was the fact that her chest was… quite large.

Rin made a rough estimation and figured it was easily twice the size of Horikita Suzune's… at least twice!

Horikita Suzune, who was quietly reading a famous book, suddenly frowned, her delicate brows furrowing. She felt a strange sense of malice directed her way.

"Hello, my name is Rin Matsuoka," he greeted the girl cheerfully.

"H-Hello, I..I'm Sakura Airi," she stammered in response.

Sakura Airi was so nervous around strangers that her legs were pressed tightly together under the table, her pale face flushed, and her eyes darted around in panic behind her glasses.

Rin could sense her overwhelming tension, and he couldn't help but reveal a subtle smile.

He hadn't expected the girl named Sakura Airi to be this timid, getting so worked up over a simple greeting.

Rin's eyes landed on the camera she was clutching tightly in her hands, and he immediately seized on the opportunity to keep the conversation going.

"Sakura-san, is that a camera? Do you enjoy taking pictures?" he asked.

"Mm…" Sakura Airi nodded slightly, her voice barely audible.

Rin, who had never really used a camera before, smiled and said, "What a coincidence, I like taking pictures too."

*I'm so tired, so alone...*

Horikita Suzune, who was still sitting quietly in her seat, narrowed her eyes.

*This guy likes filming? How did I not know?*

*Hmph, he's definitely lying again!*

Using photography as a topic, Rin effortlessly continued chatting with the shy Sakura Airi. Because they now had a common interest, Sakura Airi's nervousness gradually subsided, and the tension that had gripped her plump body finally eased.

Most people unconsciously become more confident when discussing something they excel at, and for Sakura Airi, photography was the source of her confidence.

Of course, Rin's handsome appearance was also a huge advantage.

If it had been Ike Kanji, the boy sitting to Rin Matsuoka's right, even if he brought up photography as a topic, Sakura Airi would probably have remained as nervous and timid as before.

Just as Rin and Sakura Airi were chatting harmoniously, one of the boys stood up.

This boy, Yosuke Hirata, was clean-cut, without dyed hair or piercings. His serious demeanor made him look like the kind of student any teacher would appreciate.

"Everyone, can you please be quiet for a moment and listen to me?" Yosuke Hirata called out, his voice clear and firm.

Since the class had been speaking in low voices, Hirata's voice carried easily throughout the room.

The conversations in the classroom came to a halt, and Rin also stopped talking with Sakura Airi, turning his attention to Hirata Yosuke.

Under the puzzled and curious gazes of the students, Hirata continued seriously, "From today onwards, we'll be living together in this school and in this class."

"There are still over forty minutes left until the entrance ceremony."

"So, I'd like to use this time to have everyone introduce themselves, so we can get to know each other faster and start becoming friends."

Hirata's suggestion was admirable. A round of self-introductions was exactly what many students in Class D wanted, but unfortunately, most lacked the courage to propose it like Hirata had.

"I agree!" Kushida Kikyo suddenly chimed in, raising her hand with a sweet smile. "We don't even know each other's names yet. I'd love to remember everyone's face and name so we can become friends quickly!"

On the bus, Kushida had kept a low profile, but now that they were in Class D, she no longer saw the need to hide.

After all, with Rin Matsuoka and Horikita Suzune in the same class, there was no point in concealing her intentions anymore.

Now, Kushida had decided that before those two could expose her dark past, she would win over the entire class by establishing a positive image for herself.

As long as the whole class believed in her persona—innocent, cute, kind, enthusiastic, cheerful, and lively—then even if Rin Matsuoka and Horikita Suzune tried to bring up her dark history from junior high, no one would believe them!

This was the strategy Kikyo Kushida had come up with.

After realizing that Horikita Suzune would be in the same class as her, Kushida had racked her brain for a solution.

Winning over Class D was just the first step of Kikyo's plan. The next step involved becoming close friends with Rin Matsuoka and Suzune Horikita, learning their secrets, and then using their own dark pasts to threaten them!

She would blackmail them so they wouldn't dare reveal her history from junior high.

"As expected of me, this plan is flawless," Kushida praised herself inwardly.

[Host, you are being targeted by a busty beautiful girl with strange ideas in her head.]

?

Who?

Who's targeting me now?!